updated 01:20 pm EST, Sun December 18, 2011

Google Wallet gets unofficial, easy-load APK

Following a set of hacked installs, explorers have posted a much easier unofficial install of Google Wallet for the Galaxy Nexus. The new version on the XDA-Developers forums is a standard APK that loads much like any non-Market app. Its only current software need is Android 4.0.2.

The app is region-locked and won't work if it believes Wallet is being used outside of an area or network it supports, which so far is limited to the US.

While it doesn't directly constitute a complete opening up of Google Wallet, it should help those wanting to use the stock app the way they like. Despite denials by Verizon, the carrier is effectively blocking the app by preventing it from running on otherwise stock phones. It's commonly suggested that Verizon wants to discourage competition with Isis, the NFC-based payment system it's co-developing with AT&T and T-Mobile that will go live in 2012. To date, Google Wallet only officially works on Sprint and the Nexus S 4G.